Surface cattle-guard



(No Model.)

F. C. BA-LOH 8v 1E'. BUSH.

SURFACE GATTLE GUARD. No. 459,808. Patented Sept. 22, 1891.

Win-mesas: Inuezntors- 'Httg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. BALCII AND FREDERICK BUSH, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

SURFACE CATTLE-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,808, datedSeptember 22, 1891.

Application filed July 3, 1890. Serial No. 357,662. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK C. BALCH and FREDERICK BUSH, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Kalamazoo, county of Kalamazoo, State ofMichigan, have invented a new and useful Surface Cattle Guard, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of cattleguards known as metalsurface cattleguards, which are made in sections and placed between andoutside of the rails.

This invention consists in the below-de# scribed and claimedconstruction of a surface cattle-guard in which the upper surface of thesections of the guard consists of metal plates so cut and drawn as topresent diagonal crossing bars vertically edgewise and bounding diamondor other shaped apertures, whereby greater simplicity and cheapness aredesigned to be secured and animals are less liable to become entangledwith the guard at the crossing.

In the drawings forming apart of this specification, Figure l is a planview. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on line 5 5 in Fig. l, and Figs. 3and -L are enlarged lettered details in perspective.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawings, B represents a frame,having transverse bars A, upon which the surface of the guard C ismounted, as in Figs. land 2. The end bars A incline downward and theends of the surface C are bent down to fit said inclined surface, as inFig. 2. Any suitable means, such as staples c, as here shown, orotherwise, may be used to attach the surface C to the frame. Thesections of the guards as here shown are placed upon the ties and are ofcourse attached thereto when in use by some suitable means, such asspikes or otherwise; or the guards may be provided with other suitablesupports. The apertures between the bars should be small enough, ofcourse, so as not to allow the animals feet to pass through in case theyshould step upon the guard.

In Fig. 3 the diagonalbars are integral with each other where theycross. These bars may be styled diagonal bars crossing each other,

or they may with equal propriety be styled zigzag bars. In this plan Cis a sheet of metalprovided with a series of slits or gashes. The metalis then drawn and pressed so as to fix the bars vertically edgewise, asin Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 shows an equivalent construction, in which the zigzag bars areriveted or bolted together' at their points of interception. Such aguard is light, strong, neat in appearance, and can be cheaply produced.

The design in use is of course to employ one or more sections betweenthe rails and a section outside of each rail, only one outside Sectionbeing shown in Fig. I.

While I have described these bars as being vertically edgewise, I do notWish to be limited strictly to this construction, as it will appearobvious that the bars might be set at other angles or be square ordiamond-shaped, or be placed i'latwise; but the construction as hereinillustrated is preferred.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

In a surface cattle-guard, sections composed of transverse bars and anupper metal surface consisting of zigzag bars attached together at theirpoints of meeting and supported by said transverse bars, said zigzagbars bounding diamond or other shaped apertures and being bent at adownward incline at each end of the section, said bent-down portionbeing secured to the end transverse bars, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of the foregoing' we have hereunto subscribed ournamesinthe presence of two witnesses.

FRANK C. BALCH. FREDERICK BUSH.

Vitnesses to the signature of Frank C. Balch:

BELLE C. FREEMAN, J AMES BAMMANN. Titnesses to the signature ofFrederick Bush:

RALPH LITTLER, J. E. PALMER.

